EFL: Brett Rowe appointed Ringwood coach in Eastern Football League

ANOTHER senior coach has rolled off the East Ringwood Football Club production line.

Former Roos assistant Brett Rowe was last week appointed as the new Ringwood mentor, becoming the second East Ringwood assistant coach to land a senior appointment this Eastern Football League off-season.

Rowe is a well-known figure around Jubilee Park, having served as playing assistant coach in the mid-2000s and featuring in the Redbacks’ most recent flag in 2005.

Premiership teammate Kyle Matthews will also be returning to Ringwood as a playing assistant coach, joining brother Jesse back at the club after a stint at Seaford.

Ringwood has featured in the past three Division 3 finals series, including two preliminary final appearances in 2016 and 2017, but has been unable to progress to a decider.

“It was an opportunity I didn’t think would pop up, obviously with (former coach) Patrick (Bowden) being there I thought he was going to be there long term,” Rowe said.

“When the job opened up, having played there and played in there last premiership, I thought it would be a great opportunity to go back and try help them achieve the ultimate success,”

Rowe started his senior coaching career at Nunawading before guiding Victorian Amateur Football Association clubs Ormond and Yarra Valley.

He is the second East Ringwood assistant to depart the Roos after Anthony Goodwin accepted the Mulgrave position.

After two narrow preliminary final losses in the past two seasons, Rowe said he wanted to instil confidence into the Redbacks that they were good enough to make a grand final.

“It is all about belief and keeping them focused that they are good enough to get to the finals and get to prelims but it is about keeping that belief to give them confidence to play their brand of footy that has got them there,” Rowe said.

“I just want them to play on instinct and not worry about what the results can be sometimes.”